Book Launch: "Jassim the Leader, Founder of Qatar"

Shaikh Mohamed A. J. Althani, Qatar’s former Minister of Economy and Commerce, officially presented his latest book, "Jassim the Leader: Founder of Qatar," at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha on Monday, September 23.

The high-profile launch hosted Dr. Hamad bin Abdul Aziz Al Kuwari, Qatar’s Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage as well as other dignitaries and local media. It included a reading by Shaikh Mohamed and a Q&A about the origins of his book.

This is Althani’s second book, and it tells the story of the extraordinary life of Jassim bin Muhammad Bin Thani, widely referred to as founder of modern Qatar.

“Qatar is today known for being a rich country, a global investment powerhouse and the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, the foundations of this extraordinary success, which have been so magnificently built upon, were laid over a century ago by the pioneering spirit of Jassim bin Muhammad Bin Thani,” said Shaikh Mohamed.

The story takes readers back to the 1830s, when the Gulf was a fragmented region, a desert peninsula without security and borders and where coastal communities depended on pearling for survival, while constantly at the mercy of tribal raiders.

Little known outside Qatar, Jassim skilfully allied with Ottoman forces to fend off the British, to establish power in the newly rebuilt capital, Doha, eventually becoming the first leader of the new country.

Last year, Althani released his first book, "The Arab Spring & The Gulf States: Time to Embrace Change," which analyses the important domestic areas of demography, security, provision of food and water.

Source: ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Image: Shaikh Mohamed A. J. Althani (Left)